The fossil fuel industry’s oil pollution in UK waters has been drastically underreported, according to a new report from the conservation group Oceana.
Karen McVeigh reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Oceana estimates that oil pollution in the UK’s North Sea is 43% higher than officially reported due to insufficient oversight.
- Oil companies are required to self-report spills and discharge of contaminated water, but many breaches go uninspected and underreported.
- The group calls for stricter enforcement, noting that just 15% of oil and gas installations were inspected last year.
Key quote:
"The system has been set up in such an opaque way it makes it difficult to understand the full volume of oil that is being discharged."
— Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana
Why this matters:
Chronic underreporting of oil pollution endangers marine wildlife and ecosystems. Environmental advocates say increased oversight and enforcement are necessary to mitigate the ongoing environmental damage caused by oil spills and contaminated water discharges.
